Oregon football: Rob Beard pleads guilty to harassment

Rob Beard, the Oregon kicker who was charged with assault in the Jan. 24 brawl that landed him in the hospital, pleaded guilty Friday to a lesser charge of physical harassment in Lane County Circuit Court.

Two other men, Kirby Hawkins and Maurice Peterson, pleaded guilty to third-degree assault. All three were sentenced to 100 hours of community service.

Beard, who police said pushed a 19-year-old woman to the ground, also was put on one year’s probation; Hawkins and Peterson will have 18 months probation.

A UO spokesman said Beard’s status with the team “is not expected to change.’’

Beard and freshman Alejandro Maldonado are the candidates to be the Ducks’ new kicker, replacing Morgan Flint. Last season, Beard was Oregon’s kickoff specialist and long-range field goal kicker, although he attempted only one (a 51-yarder that was blocked at UCLA).